Canada May Legalize Physician-Assisted Suicide

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has presented legislation that aims to legalize physician-assisted suicide for people suffering from serious medical conditions. The country’s supreme court overturned a criminal ban on assisted death in February of last year, finding that those who consent to the decision and are suffering from “grievous and irremediable medical conditions” should be allowed. Since the ruling, judges have granted permission for assisted deaths in individual cases. Late last year, Quebec was able to create a province-wide assisted-death program based on its own regional control over the health-care system.